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TeamLab Planets Evaluate: Is It Value It?


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TeamLab Planets Tokyo is an interactive digital artwork museum that makes use of lights, projections, water, and sounds in artistic methods.

It’s an immersive, shocking expertise that dissolves the boundaries between the viewer and the artwork.

We cherished TeamLab Borderless (which I examine to Planets under) and loved TeamLab Planets simply as a lot.

Some folks say this common attraction is overrated, however we expect it’s distinctive and magical.

On this TeamLab Planets overview, I share what to anticipate on the museum, sensible particulars like how you can get tickets (they do promote out), and our greatest TeamLab Planets suggestions (together with what to put on to handle the water sections).

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TeamLab Planets Location

TeamLab Planets is positioned in Toyosu, a artifical island and neighbourhood of Tokyo. It’s just a little out of the best way from central Tokyo, however it may be reached by public transport in about 45 minutes from Shinjuku and Shibuya.

See under for how you can get there.

You may see the TeamLab Planets location on Google Maps.

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TeamLab Planets Hours

TeamLab Planets’ opening hours and shutting days fluctuate, so it’s finest to examine the TeamLab web site.

It’s normally open from 9am – 10pm (with UZU ramen open 11am – 8.30pm).

TeamLab Planets is at the moment resulting from shut on the finish of 2027, however there’s at all times the possibility it is going to be prolonged (because it has up to now).

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Finest Time to Go to TeamLab Planets

The very best time to go to TeamLab Planets is at opening on a weekday.

We cherished being one of many first folks to enter. It was noticeably quieter at 9am than at 10am.

If that’s not doable, I’d select two hours earlier than closing (and eat ramen earlier than your go to).

The center of the day is busiest, and you must keep away from weekends and public holidays if you happen to can.

Simon in the Floating Flower Garden at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo.Simon in the Floating Flower Garden at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo.
The Floating Flower Backyard may have a shorter wait earlier within the day.

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TeamLab Planets Tickets

TeamLab Planets ticket prices fluctuate relying on the date and normally vary from round 3600 yen ($24) to 4800 yen ($31) for adults.

You will need to e book prematurely for a selected time slot.

Tickets go on sale about three months prematurely. Whilst you would possibly be capable to get a day slot if you happen to e book final minute, in order for you the primary slot, I like to recommend reserving 1-2 months forward.

You may e book on the TeamLab web site, or we discovered extra availability on Get Your Information, so we booked there.

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How Lengthy to Go to TeamLab Planets

For our 9am slot, we arrived at 8.40am and left at 11.30am, so we had been there for about three hours, together with queuing to get in and consuming at UZU Ramen.

It took us an hour to stroll round the entire exhibition (Water and Backyard) the primary time, after which we did one other loop round Water, which took Half-hour.

Simon in The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in TokyoSimon in The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo
We cherished rooms like The Infinite Crystal Universe a lot that we visited twice.

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What to Put on to TeamLab Planets

TeamLab Planets is a shoeless attraction—you should go across the exhibition barefoot (no socks). It’s simpler to put on sneakers that may be rapidly slipped off.

You may be strolling via water in a number of sections. The water degree comes about midway up an grownup’s shin (relying in your peak). It’s finest to be ready to get moist from the knees down.

It’s best to put on shorts to TeamLab Planets (which is what we did) or at the least trousers which you can simply roll up above the knee (skinny denims are usually not best!).

Erin in The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in TokyoErin in The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo
I wore shorts to TeamLab Planets on a heat October day.

It’s also possible to borrow shorts at TeamLab, however this may gradual you down on arrival (essential for the primary slot).

We noticed loads of folks carrying skirts, however the flooring are mirrored in some areas, so your underwear could also be seen—carrying shorts below a skirt is a good suggestion.

Lockers are supplied once you arrive; you should go away your sneakers, baggage, and jackets in them.

The one issues you’ll be able to carry into the exhibition are cameras and telephones. Tripods and selfie sticks are usually not allowed.

If you’ll be taking your cellphone with you, you would possibly need to put on one thing with pockets so that you don’t have to hold it in your fingers the entire time. A transparent lanyard can be acceptable (fanny packs/waist baggage are usually not).

I had my digital camera on a strap, which made it straightforward to hold round. Gentle ranges are low, so put your quickest lens in your digital camera (you’ll be able to’t convey spare lenses in).

Towels are supplied to dry off your ft as soon as you permit the moist areas.

In case you are visiting with young children, it’s finest to convey a spare set of garments in case they get soaked.

Simon in The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in TokyoSimon in The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo

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What to Anticipate at TeamLab Planets

On Arrival

It’s price arriving at TeamLab Planets 15-Half-hour earlier than your allotted entrance time, as there will probably be a queue to get in.

As we’d booked the primary 9am slot, we arrived at 8.40am and needed to wait exterior the advanced on the road. There have been about 20 folks in entrance of us. By 9am the queue was for much longer.

At 9am we had been let into the grounds and joined the official queue for the constructing. There’s an indication that claims which period slots are allowed to queue.

In case you are too early to hitch the queue, there’s an out of doors space with seating, restrooms, and water merchandising machines.

Seating area outside TeamLab Planets TokyoSeating area outside TeamLab Planets Tokyo
Seating space exterior TeamLab Planets with queues behind

There’s additionally a fiery tower-like paintings, Universe of Hearth Particles Falling from the Sky, that interacts with an app. We checked out this after our go to.

Universe of Fire Particles Falling from the Sky artwork at TeamLab Planets TokyoUniverse of Fire Particles Falling from the Sky artwork at TeamLab Planets Tokyo
Universe of Hearth Particles Falling from the Sky

We didn’t use the services as we didn’t need to lose the benefit of arriving early.

We had been let in with the primary group at 9.05am and proven a brief video that defined you’ll have to be barefoot, and so forth.

Then the doorways open into the locker room. You will need to take off your sneakers earlier than you enter this space.

There are a lot of rows of lockers. We headed straight to the furthest aisle, which is quieter and nearer to the exhibition entrance.

We already had our stuff ready, so we had been capable of put our baggage and sneakers within the locker rapidly. The lockers are free and use a key that you just preserve with you.

There are restrooms within the altering space, however I skipped them for now to save lots of time.

As we had been quick to place our stuff away, there have been solely 5 folks forward of us after we entered the exhibit.

Whereas everybody didn’t take lengthy to catch up, we loved having these quiet moments in the beginning.

There are at the moment two areas at TeamLab Planets (with extra to come back in 2025). You begin by going proper to the Water route, then return to the locker space (the place you’ll be able to entry your stuff/ use the restrooms, and so forth.) earlier than going left to observe the Backyard route.

Observe that there are a number of stairs; folks in wheelchairs can take another route.

Water Space

I felt just a little burdened after a morning travelling on rush hour trains and queuing, however it didn’t take lengthy for me to really feel calmed by the awe-inspiring area.

We began in darkness, getting our ft moist with a stroll up an eerily lit waterfall ramp.

Pictures is a problem as a result of a lot of the exhibit is darkish, and I didn’t even trouble with the early sections.

After drying off our ft, we made our manner into the subsequent exhibit, Smooth Black Gap, the place you stroll throughout a darkish room on a spongey floor. Your physique impacts the area and it impacts others—we’re all linked.

Issues obtained brighter as we entered The Infinite Crystal Universe—or the Crystal Maze as we known as it.

The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in TokyoThe Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo

Strings of LED lights grasp from the ceiling on this massive room, the lights altering color and the mirrored ground added to the sensation of infinite area.

The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in TokyoThe Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo
The Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in TokyoThe Infinite Crystal Universe at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo

The TeamLab app lets you take part within the artwork, however Simon couldn’t get it to work very nicely.

We cherished exploring this surreal area.

The Koi Pond was subsequent and one other favorite. You stroll throughout a darkish room crammed with heat water the place projections of vibrant koi fish swim throughout the water. Once you collide with a fish, it transforms right into a flower.

It’s not prerecorded or on a loop, so it’s by no means the identical.

Koi Pond at TeamLab Planets TokyoKoi Pond at TeamLab Planets Tokyo
The water-filled Koi Pond

Don’t miss the aspect room off the pond known as Ephemeral Solidified Gentle. Streams of water fall down, and as you set your hand close to, the opposite streams go darkish so you’ll be able to conduct your individual gentle present.

Ephemeral Solidified Light at TeamLab Planets in TokyoEphemeral Solidified Light at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo

Again on dry land, we handed via a room of large colored spheres—once you contact the balls, they alter color and play a sound.

Room of giant balls at TeamLab Planets in TokyoRoom of giant balls at TeamLab Planets in Tokyo

The ultimate room on the Water aspect is Floating within the Falling Universe of Flowers. We cherished how stress-free this one was (please be quiet to maintain it that manner!).

Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers at TeamLab Planets TokyoFloating in the Falling Universe of Flowers at TeamLab Planets Tokyo

You sit or lie in the midst of the room and search for on the pictures of vibrant flowers projected on the partitions and ceiling. They continuously change, and also you see them bloom, wither, and die. There’s even a flower scent.

It’s fairly a trippy expertise, and it could possibly really feel like the ground is shifting. Watch out as you get up, because it’s disorientating.

Backyard Space

We returned to the locker room earlier than visiting the Backyard aspect, which options two dwell gardens. This space just isn’t projection-focused like Water, and it makes use of pure gentle.

The Moss Backyard of Resonating Microcosms is exterior—you might be given sandals to put on. The small moss backyard is stuffed with reflective silver ovoids with mist rising between them.

Moss Garden of Resonating Microcosms at TeamLab Planets TokyoMoss Garden of Resonating Microcosms at TeamLab Planets Tokyo

One of many benefits of visiting TeamLab Planets after sundown is seeing the ovoids glow in a number of colors. It seems very completely different after darkish.

Lastly, the Floating Flower Backyard is the one exhibit that limits numbers and the time allowed inside, so we needed to wait a short time to enter.

That is such a fantastic place with actual orchids hanging from the ceiling and shifting up and down so you’ll be able to go beneath. The mirrored ground magnifies the impact.

Erin in the orchid garden at TeamLab Planets, one of the most unique things to do in TokyoErin in the orchid garden at TeamLab Planets, one of the most unique things to do in Tokyo

The exhibit is feasible as a result of the orchids can develop with out soil by absorbing water from the air. 

We cherished our go to to TeamLab Planets a lot that after returning to the locker room, we did one other tour across the Water space. We didn’t take images this time however immersed ourselves within the otherworldly ambiance.

New Areas in 2025

In early 2025, two new areas are resulting from open at TeamLab Planets—Athletics Forest and Catching and Gathering Forest.

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What Are the Finest Areas in TeamLab Planets?

Our favorite areas had been Floating within the Falling Universe of Flowers, the Koi Pond, and the Floating Flower Backyard (orchids).

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UZU Ramen

Vegan miso ramen in the art exhibition space at Vegan Ramen Uzu at Teamlab Planets Tokyo.Vegan miso ramen in the art exhibition space at Vegan Ramen Uzu at Teamlab Planets Tokyo.
Vegan ramen at UZU

The enjoyable doesn’t finish as soon as you permit the exhibit.

Exterior TeamLab is our favorite ramen place in Tokyo—Vegan Ramen UZU. I extremely suggest having a meal right here after your go to (or earlier than if visiting later).

You order on the counter and might eat at an out of doors desk or pay further for a set (which features a drink) to have the ability to eat contained in the artwork room, Reversible Rotation – Non-Goal Area.

There’s very restricted area inside—solely 10 folks round a communal desk—so you will have to attend.

Inside, it’s darkish and funky, with projections on the ceiling and partitions and mirrored on the mirrored desk. Everybody consuming was quiet, so it made for a chilled area.

There’s just one kind of vegan ramen out there, and it’s scrumptious. The miso oat milk broth is flavourful, and the do-it-yourself noodles are pleasantly chewy.

It’s also possible to order drinks and vegan ice cream.

That is one in all our favorite vegan eating places in Tokyo. There’s additionally a department in Kyoto that we suggest with extra ramen decisions and funky paintings—see our information to vegetarian and vegan meals in Kyoto.

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Easy methods to Get to TeamLab Planets

TeamLab Planets might be reached by practice and subway from throughout Tokyo. These are the closest stations:

  • Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line) – 1 minute on foot.
  • Toyosu Station (Yurakucho Line) – 10 minutes on foot (that is probably the most helpful station).
  • Shijoumae Station – 5 minutes on foot.

You should utilize Google Maps to search out one of the best route out of your lodge.

The draw back of an early begin slot at TeamLab is having to journey at rush hour—count on crowded trains. We left Shimokitazawa (close to Shibuya) at 7.30am and needed to stand the entire manner (a one-hour journey with transfers).

Tokyo Station to TeamLab Planets

TeamLab Planets is best to achieve from this aspect of Tokyo. Stroll a couple of minutes to Yurakucho Station and take the Yurakucho Line on to Toyosu Station (8 minutes) then stroll 10 minutes.

Or take the JR Yamanote Line to Yurakucho (2 minutes) and alter.

Shinjuku Station to TeamLab Planets

From Shinkuku Station, take the Shinjuku Line to Ichigaya Station, then change to the Yurakucho Line to Toyosu Station. Permit about 45 minutes to 1 hour for the journey.

Ginza to TeamLab Planets

There’s a shuttle bus out there between GINZA SIX and teamLab Planets. You may solely purchase the ticket on Klook.

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What to Go to Close to TeamLab Planets

Toyosu Market is a 5-10 minute stroll from TeamLab Planets and is a well-liked vacation spot for its fish market.

As vegetarians, we didn’t go to the market. As a substitute, we walked all the way down to Toyosu Park on the best way again to the station. On a sunny day, it was very nice with views of the canal. The open area felt good after being in additional crowded elements of Tokyo.

Waterfront Toyosu Park near TeamLab Planets, TokyoWaterfront Toyosu Park near TeamLab Planets, Tokyo
Toyosu Park close to TeamLab Planets

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TeamLab Planets vs Borderless

TeamLab Borderless digital arts museum in TokyoTeamLab Borderless digital arts museum in Tokyo
Simon on the outdated TeamLab Borderless

Are you questioning whether or not to go to TeamLab Planets or TeamLab Borderless?

Firstly, know that they’re each gorgeous exhibitions with an identical fashion, and you’ll’t go unsuitable with both.

We visited Borderless on the earlier Odaiba location (earlier than it reopened in 2024) and cherished it. Selecting between them is troublesome. Listed below are a number of variations:

TeamLab Planets

  • Takes 1 hour+
  • You go barefoot and stroll via water.
  • Extra tactile and bodily immersive.
  • You observe a delegated path.
  • Consists of gardens with dwell vegetation.
  • Uzu Vegan Ramen for meals.
  • Because of shut on the finish of 2027.

TeamLab Borderless

  • Extra central location (Azabudai Hills close to Roppongi).
  • A lot bigger.
  • Takes 2 hours+
  • No fastened route via the displays.
  • Extra areas that you must queue for.
  • En Tea Home for drinks.
  • Barely dearer.
  • Sells out quicker.
  • Everlasting.

You should purchase tickets to TeamLab Borderless on the TeamLab web site or from Klook (generally with a reduction).

Most individuals say that the brand new TeamLab Borderless is the higher exhibition. It’s definitely a lot bigger and extra expansive. And a few folks favor not having to take their sneakers off.

That stated, we cherished the water and dwell plant components of Planets (and, after all, the scrumptious ramen).

For those who can, do each, however do Planets first.

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Is TeamLab Planets Value It?

Sure, TeamLab Planets is certainly price visiting! It’s one in all our favorite issues to do in Tokyo.

We love how artistic, vibrant, and interactive the exhibition is. Whereas it’s nice for photograph ops (regardless of lighting challenges), we discovered it much more magical after we did a second loop with out taking images. It’s a spot that lifts our spirits.

The value is cheap for the standard of the exhibition, and whereas it’s a bit out of the best way, I feel it’s well worth the effort to get there.

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Extra Japan Posts

Learn extra of our journey suggestions for Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan.

Our Tokyo Journey Guides

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